Improvement in steam-cylinders and piston-valves



G. G. PICIHNG &` w. HBPKINS.

Steam-Cylinders and Piston-Valves.

. out the employment of any mechanic struction,

UNITED STATES GEOEGE G. PIOKING, or EINGsLAND,

TON, AssIGNOEs TO TnEMsELvEs, sON, OE LONDON, ENGLAND.

PATENT OFFICE,

AND VILLIAM HOPKINS, OF ISLING- JAMES HART, AND JAMES L. SAMP-Specification forming part of Letters Patent-No. 14 May 19,

To` allcvlzomt may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE GoRDoNPIcx- ING,of Kingsland, in the county of Middlesex, England, and WILLIAM HOPKINS,of Islington, in the same county, engineers, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Steam Cylinders and Piston -Valves, for usein steam pumping machinery and in steamengines, of which the followingis a specification: The invention consists arrangement and combin inderwith a reciprocati valve, each of which is ports and passages, as tocause the recip rod in the cylinder,

,principally, in the ation of a steam-cylng bar and a slideprovided withcertain in such relative positions rocation of the piston and ashereafter described, withal appliance or gearfor directing the flow ofsteam actuating the same. Such being the nature and object of our saidinvention for improvements in the construction, arrangement, and workingof steam-cylinders for use in steam pumping machinery, and insteam-engines, we will now proceed to describe more in detail the mannerin which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practicaleffect; and in order that the same may be distinctly understood, we haveannexed hereunto two sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, and havemarked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding withthose in the following explanation thereof-that is to say:

On the accompanying drawings, one modication, showing the application ofthe invention to a steam-pump, is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,the iirst of which represents a sectional plan through the valve-chest,slidevalve, and bar.

l represents the cylinder, of ordinary conand provided at each end witha cover, 2, secured in the usual way by bolts and nuts, surmounted bythe bar3, which is placed at the side of the slide-valve 4. (See Fig.2.) The D-slide proper is seated on the bottom of the steam-chest orvalve, or bar-casing 5, and is fitted in a rod, 6, connecting twoenlarged heads, 7, which work in its casing, so as to be moved by andact therewith, and which form y communicates therefrom, thro -ing 5 andvalve-head 7, with fterior of that 4,788, dated November 18, 1873application filed with the D valve 4.

The operation of this modification will be readily ascertained onreference being had especially to Figs. 1 and 4.` Live steam is irstadmitted into the interiors of the valve 4 and bar 3, which latter isofthe construction shown, through a common pipe, S, Figs1 and 2, and hasconstant access from the former, through either one of two mainsteam-ports, 9 16, to alternate opposite ends ofthe cylinder 1, to causethe desired reciprocation of the piston 11 and rod 12 therein, andexhausts throughan opening, 13, common to both the valve 4 and the -bar3. Suppose the parts to be in the position shown in these figures. Inpassing from the valve 4 through the port 9, the steam causes the piston1.1 and rod 12 to make a stroke in the direction of the arrow 14, on ornear the termination of which the piston 11 passes over or uncovers aport, 15,Y in and near the end of the cylinder 1, (see Fig. 1,) whichugh a port or pasne, 15, in the casone end of the inpart of the casing 5containing hen the steam passes from behind through this passage 15,and, acthe end of the casing containing the valve 4, between it and theenlarged head 7 at this end, causes the shifting of the. valve 4 part ofits stroke to the right, but sufficient to close or obstruct thethrough-passage 15, and to open a second port, 16, leading from this endof the interior of its casing to a port, 16, opening in the interior ofthat part of the casing containing the bar 3,., and, at the same time,in communication with the live steam being supplied thereto. The steam,therefore, passes from the interior ofthe bar 3, through this passage16, behind the same head of the valve 4, and completes the stroke of thesame, the exhaust-port 17, at the end toward which the stroke was made,being open through an exhaust-port, 17, in 'the bar 3 and the opening 13to the air. The slide 4, being constructed as an ordinary slide-valve,and either ilat or radial, now changes the direction of the steamthrough the port 10 into the cylinder 1, at the sage, 15, in the bar 3,and o the valve 4, w the piston 11 ing against t same time opening theexhaust 9 from the end toward which the next stroke is to be made, andcauses the piston 11 to begin to make its return stroke. As soon as itbegins to move, steam passes through a port, 18, Which the piston hadpreviously covered in the main cylinder and passage 18, leading fromthis end of the latter to the same end of that part of the casingcontaining the bar 3-a similar passage, 19, at the other end being noWopen to the exhaust ofthe cylinder-and thereby moves the bar 3 in thedirection of the movement of the piston 11 into the position ready tocause the return movement of the valve 4 to that above described, assoon as the piston has passed a port, 20, in the cylinder 1 at this end,corresponding to the one 15 at its other end, which, as above described,caused 'the flrst movement of the valve 4. The ports and passages 18 and19, leading from each end of the cylinder 1 to the saine ends of thecasing containing the bar 3, may be made to run into the main steamports and passages 9 and 10, if desired, so that the commencement of themovements of the piston 11 and bar 3 may be simultaneous. rllheabove-described action is thus continued, the next strokes of the valve4 and barl 3 being caused by the action of the steam through ports andpassages 20, 21, and 19, respectively, at opposite ends of the cylinderto those 15, 16, and 18, above described, but bearing an exactly similarrelation to each other as regards their position and functions.

rlhe invention consists further in the provision of simple and effectualmeans for readily shifting the valve 4 and bar 3 in the event of theirsticking during the action, (see Figs. 2 and 3.) At the upper part ofthe casing 5 We fit a spindle, 28, having a handle, 29, at its outerend. The casing is provided with two outer female bosses, 30, into whichare inserted screw-plugs 31, prior to Which screw-pins 32 are passedthrough the bosses 30, and into the spindle 28, so as to project throughit and into slots in or against projections on the valve 4 and bar 3, sothat in the event of their sticking they can both be immediately startedagain by simply touching the handle.

It will be understood that this part of the invention is equallyapplicable to steam-cylinders Working in connection with any number ofvalves by simply providing the requisite number of pins 32.

Having now described the nature and object of our said invention forimprovements in the construction, arrangement, and Working ofsteam-cylinders for use in steam pumping machinery and in steam-engines,together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performedor carried into practical eii'ect, We Would remark, in conclusion, thatWe claim as our invention- 1. The combination of a steam-cylinder, areciprocating bar, and a slide-valve, each having a cavity for receivinglive steam, with ports 15 16 17 18 19 20 21, so as to partly shift orstart the main valve, for the ulterior pur- Y pose of changing the iiowof steam to the main cylinder by steam from the cylinder, and completeits movement by steam from the bar steam-chamber, and the shifting ofthe bar by steam from the cylinder, as described.

2,The simple arrangement of ports 15 16 20 21, in combination with thesteam-chamber, of the bar for causing the slide-valve to commence itsstroke by steam from the cylinder, and complete it by steam from thebar.

3. The combination, With a valve-casing, of a spindle, 28, handle 29,bosses 30, plugs 31, pins 32, and projections 33, for preventing thestopping or sticking of the valve and bar, and to allow of them bothbeing moved by one movement of the handle.

WM. HOPKINS. G. G. PIGKING. Vitnesses BnIsToW HUNT,

Solicitor cmd Patent Agent, 5 Scrle st.,

London. Guns. AUBRY DAY,

Draftsman, 95 N wvm'uo Road, Dalstou Rise, London.

